Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for birds

Bee Balm, Birds, Bunnies and Scout

June 20, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

Except for a brief period of lawn mowing, I pretty much stayed by my girl’s side most of the day. When I was outside, Don was with her. Because I don’t want her to have to deal with the den steps, I’ve been staying in the living room, sitting in the yellow chair, just like I did last summer when I was recovering from my surgeries. Brings back memories. Scout is hanging in there. She sleeps most of the day, but definitely wants us by her side during this scary time. I’m hoping that tomorrow will bring some easing of the eye movements. Cross your fingers. And thank you for your loving and supportive comments. I told Scoutie that she has a lot of friends out there who love her very much.

The bee balm has started blooming and I have to say it’s the tallest I’ve ever seen it!

Look at that! The tallest one is this photo has to be over 4 feet tall. I tried to take a picture of me standing next to it with my iPhone.

It looks like it just might attack me. But seriously, I’m 5’8″. That stalk has to be over 4 feet – maybe even 4 1/2 feet.

Bee balm has such an exotic look, doesn’t it? I love that shot of red in the garden.

My friend the catbird decided to rest for a bit on my thermometer/rain gauge.

Catbirds love a dip in the birdbath and I frequently see them there. Today I saw two little birds that I hadn’t seen before. I ran for the camera, but quick as a wink, they were gone. Finches, maybe? I’ve seen these two before. They landed for a brief moment on one of my hanging plants. I think they are a pair – male and female.

Today I saw a mom robin feeding her fledglings outside the kitchen window. I made myself turn away.  After last year’s worries over those robin fledglings and roaming cats, I can’t go there again. And my neighbors have outdoor cats. I wish they’d keep their darn cats indoors. I mean, they are their pets, right? When cats are let outside, birds, baby birds and baby bunnies become their prey – all of which live on my property. I’m sure I won’t make everyone happy with that statement, but I love all animals. Life is tough enough for baby animals and baby birds without being preyed upon by someone’s pet cat. I don’t let my dogs loose to roam around a neighbor’s property – if I did, I’d get complaints right and left. And I just get too caught up in the whole thing. I can’t help it. I want to save every creature. I want to protect fledgling birds and baby bunnies and the little chipmunks that are running here and there in my yard. This morning I looked out the window and there was a robin, a chipmunk and a bunny all doing their thing within a few feet of each other. That made me so happy. They were perfectly happy to be around each other – no one was threatened. All was peaceful.

Do you hear me cats? Those are the rules on my property, you little killers. Back off. Your owners are feeding you all sorts of nice cat food. You’re not being forced to survive in the wild. You don’t need to feast on anything living, thank you very much.

End of smallish rant.

Speaking of animal cuteness:

Checking out the shed area. My bunnies eat a lot of grass – I rarely see them in the garden – occasionally, but there’s a lot of grass to feast on here at the Cottage. We coexist rather nicely.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: animals, birds, flowers, garden, Scout 21 Comments

Birds Simply Need a Good Birdbath

May 29, 2012 at 7:30 am by Claudia

Those of you who have been with me for a while should remember the damage we suffered last fall from Hurricane Irene. We lost a massive limb from our Sugar Maple. As we watched in horror, the limb fell in slow motion, crashing to the ground only about 5 feet from the house. One of the casualties was my birdbath. The bowl of the birdbath was broken in two. The base somehow survived. I took the two halves and decided to use them in the garden as garden art.

That left the base standing by its lonesome throughout the fall, the winter and early spring. I found a replacement bowl at Lowe’s the other day and it fit perfectly.

I couldn’t stand the thought of my bird friends not having access to a nice bath or drink of water. It didn’t take long for them to discover it.

When the catbird appears, the robin is right behind him. They take turns. I’ve seen the robin take a bath and catbirds always take baths. They love birdbaths.

How can you not smile watching a bird take a bath? It sure must feel great on a hot day – and the last few days here have been incredibly hot and humid for this time of year. Like much of the country, we are suffering from way too much heat, way too early. Hopefully, in a day or two things will be back to normal.

I’d like my own version of a birdbath.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: birds, garden, nature 20 Comments

Let’s Talk Turkey

April 1, 2012 at 8:30 am by Claudia

Some days have a sort of strange synchronicity. Yesterday morning, when I arose, I spotted 4 or 5 wild turkeys in our back yard. I stood there watching them for a few moments as they slowly walked through the bushes to my neighbor’s yard. I usually see them on our property about 2 or 3 times a year.

Later that day, I was sitting in the den when I spotted a couple of large birds landing on the roof top of my across-the-road neighbor’s house. I grabbed my camera and quietly made my way out on to the porch.

This is a shot of the roof top of the two-story house.

There was another bird hovering in the tree.

How about a closer look?

Turkey Vultures. Soon after this picture was taken, one swooped down to the ground. Then the other followed. The third guy kept watch from the tree.

They eat carrion and I smelled skunk last night and again today… so maybe that’s what they were feasting on.

I don’t want to know.

I did a little research. They are non-aggressive, fairly gentle birds. They come up this way in the spring, which explains why I don’t see them all that often.  I was really lucky to get this shot.

Wild Turkeys and Turkey Vultures. All in one day.

Filed Under: birds, nature 25 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

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